Meet the underground talent of CRSSD Fest: Moon Boots

San Diego’s CRSSD Fest – presented by FNGRS CRSSD — has become a sanctuary for underground electronic music fans. The upcoming March edition looks to be the festival’s most promising offering yet, featuring an even greater array of delectable house and techno acts as well as some formidable headliners such as Recondite, Flume, Lane 8, and Bob Moses. To dig a big deeper into the lineup, we’ve tapped some of our favorite acts on the bill for a daily interview series before the festival.

Pete Dougherty, known by his fans as Moon Boots, has established himself through buoyant productions which invite comparisons to his whimsical stage name. The producer, who frequently appears with Anjunadeep label-mate Kidnap Kid, is amassing a well-buffed pedigree on the house circuit.

In the past year, Dougherty has performed at Movement, BPM Festival, and Electric Zoo’s Wild Island stage. His groovily accessible yet technically tight house productions have seen release on French Express and Anjunadeep, the latter of which will put out his debut LP later in 2017.

Catch Moon Boots’ coveted CRSSD sunset set Saturday, March 4, at The Palms stage. Read our interview with him below.

What was your first label release? Would you still play it in a show?

My first release was a track called “Gopherit.” I haven’t played it out in a bit but that doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy it. Would absolutely play it for an extended set at a pool party bit but that doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy it. Would absolutely play it for an extended set at a pool party

What has been the biggest breakthrough of your career?

I don’t think there’s been any one big breakthrough so far, just a few medium-sized ones. That’s the way I like it too — I’d rather not be known for only one thing.

What’s your opinion of the dance scene in the US right now?

It’s different in each city but as long as people still want to dance and have a good time we’ll find a way. If that stops happening that’s when we should all really get worried. I heard they might finally start allowing clubs on the west coast to serve alcohol until happening that’s when we should all really get worried. I heard they might finally start allowing clubs on the west coast to serve alcohol until 4 am too. That sounds like a no-brainer to me!

What are you looking forward to most about CRSSD Fest?

Enjoying that San Diego sunshine. I’ve been cooped up in New York all winter

If you could be another artist for a day, who would you pick?

Questlove would be an interesting one. I heard him give an interview recently where he said he works 16 jobs, including teaching at NYU, DJ residencies, and obviously the Tonight Show. I’d be curious to walk around in his shoes John Malkovich style and see how he fits so much into every day.

If you could recommend three artists to catch from the lineup, who would you pick?

2manyDJs, Jackmaster, and Midland. Tough to only pick three though, there are a lot of outstanding ones who don’t play the US very often

If you were recruited to provide an Essential Mix in 2017, what’s the one song you couldn’t leave out?

I’d like to play Derrick Carter’s edit of “Bad 4 Me” by Dee Dee Bridgewater. I lived in Chicago for a long time and I think that Derrick is the greatest. I’ve also been relearning how to play funk piano lately and George Duke is such a beast on that song. I really like it when essential mixes are eclectic and that’s something I’d love to do.

Can you tell me about the most exciting project you’ve got in your pipeline?

I’ve got my debut album coming out on Anjunadeep in the summer. Up until now I’ve only released singles, remixes and edits so this is a big step for me. One song from it is already out (Tear My Heart” feat Lulu James) with more to come very soon!